[the doctor]

Right now, a team doesn't take a fan interest ding for losing a popular player until that player SIGNS with another team - this doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense.

The player should be considered lost/left the team when he becomes a free agent, not when another team signs him. It's frustrating that your team doesn't take the fan interest loss/hit right away when he leaves the team, which would make more far more sense. This way the lost interest could be mitigated if/when you resign him as an FA.